Hilden’s new tribute to cycling tradition

Ireland’s longest established independent brewery has tapped into the lingering local taste for all things Giro D’Italia with the launch of a specially designed craft beer.

And the distinctive new Dunlop & Hume-branded beer from Hilden Brewery pays tribute to Belfast’s cycling legacy.

Dunlop & Hume is an IPA style beer at 5.5% with distinct hop flavours of First Gold and Challenger.

Hilden’s Seamus Scullion explained; “We wanted to create a beer that captured the excitement surrounding the Giro in terms of the event being the biggest sporting occasion in the history of Northern Ireland.

“And we also felt it was important to highlight the vital role that Belfast played in transforming cycling from a pastime into a sport enjoyed by millions.

“Cycling has become a cult sport. The Dunlop & Hume beer, with its unique heritage packaging, reflects that in a way that sells a very positive image of Belfast.”

Back in 1888 John Dunlop, a Scottish veterinary surgeon practising in Belfast developed the first inflatable tyre.

The inspiration for the invention came after watching his little son struggle on his tricycle to cope with the cobblestone surface in the back yard of the family home.

A year later Willie Hume, the captain of Belfast Cruisers’ Cycling Club, became the first person to buy a bicycle fitted with the Dunlop tyres.

The revolutionary addition to Hume’s cycling equipment allowed him to dominate the sport both in Ireland and England.

It also helped lay the foundations for cycling to become a mass appeal sport across the world.